Sunshine Gardens In Durango Colorado

Beautiful duplex unit located in-town in Sunshine Gardens with southwestern accents and mountain views. This two bedroom, three bath condo lives like a single family home with easy care. The HOA covers all utilities including electricity, water, trash, gas and landscaping. The driveway is heated so it is not necessary to shovel snow in the wintertime.

7 Tips to Real Estate Agent's Success - Tip #6 - Make Managing Yourself a Priority

Building a real estate business is not easy. You, as a realtor, must learn how to manage yourself especially in the area of time management, ongoing professional development and training (continuing education units), sales coaching and personal life balance. Real estate is said to be a 24/7 business much like any small business. However, it is important not to lose sight of your personal life including family, friends, physical health, etc.

Being a broker or realtor business owner has many benefits from setting your own time to conducting business over lunch or the golf course. Yet, time becomes an even more precious commodity and other aspects of the real estate agent's life can suffer. Meeting clients during dinner can potentially harm family dinner time. Attending education classes can interfere with the children's or other family or social plans. Therefore, the realtor must make self-management a priority for 2 reasons: business success and personal success.

When individuals are focused and understand all of their priorities, they take the appropriate actions to ensure that their lives are in balance. From my experience as a performance improvement consultant and executive coach, I have personally witnessed over 90% of my clients having lives that are out of balance. Additionally, many of my clients and those to whom I speak have consistent issues of time management from "How can I take these classes?" to "How can I continue to make sales?"

During the last several years, I have asked the following question of small business owners from real estate agents to other professionals such as accountants, engineers, executives, financial advisors and lawyers: Do you waste 12 minutes every day? What is very interesting to note is most people say yes even if they have already acknowledged that their plate is full.

From this simple question, I know that self-management is really self-leadership: How do I lead myself to achieve my goals? Self leadership is both a skill and a habit that requires ongoing development. Learning these strategies or techniques requires not only new knowledge or refreshing old knowledge, but the help from a mentor and possibly even a real estate sales coach. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather of strength. Failing to ask indicates a potential for living Einstein's definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over again hoping for different results.

When you have learned the art of successful self-management which is really self-leadership, then you will begin to achieve incredible results and having an amazing real estate business.

The Letting Agent's Role

Letting agents play an important role in the buy-to-let industry and a good agent can help make or break your lettings experience. So what should you expect from your letting agent?

Professional reputation

To attract good tenants, the agent needs to be well established in the local area and have a good reputation. Try to find agents that are members of national letting organisations, such as ARLA, as these will provide peace of mind for both you and your potential tenants.

Credit checks and references

Once a tenant's offer has been accepted, the letting agent will do some background research to ensure they are suitable.

Credit references from the bank or building society, plus personal references from employers and where applicable, previous landlords are all standard. For the self-employed, references are expected from an accountant or solicitor.

Through their own experience, letting agent's should be able to assess the suitability of potential tenants and advise if they feel that somebody would not be suitable.

Inventory

Once the suitability of the tenant is assured, an inventory and condition report will be drawn up. This records the condition of the entire property, including carpets, curtains, furniture, wallpaper and paintwork, along with a list of the entire contents of the property.

At the end of the tenancy, the inventory is used to check that the contents and condition of the property are the same as they were at the start. Changes resulting from general wear and tear are taken into account.

Tenancy agreement

Although it is possible to purchase tenancy agreement forms 'off-the-shelf', an agreement produced by a letting agent is likely to give better legal coverage having being revised on numerous occasions by specialist property lawyers.

The agreement should include:

-- Length and cost of the tenancy

-- Deposit to be paid

-- Responsibilities of the tenant

-- Any other specific matters important to the property

It is also a good idea to ensure that a clause is included that allows the letting agent to begin showing the property to new potential tenants, once the existing tenancy has nearly finished. This will help to ensure that you minimise the amount of time that your property is vacant.

Once the tenancy agreement is signed by both parties, the agent will need to advise the tenant on changing the utility bills and council tax payments to their name. They will then need to wait for the cheque for the deposit and first month's rent to clear. Once this has happened, the keys are given to the tenant and they are allowed to move in.

Ongoing management

Throughout the tenancy the agent will be responsible for collecting the rent, arranging for maintenance repairs to take place, alerting the landlord to any major issues, plus periodic visits to the property to check all is well and that the tenant is satisfied.

Concluding the tenancy

At the end of the tenancy, the agent is responsible for checking the contents and condition of the property against the inventory report, returning the tenants deposit, minus any monies for damaged property or missing items and ensuring that utility bills and council tax payments revert back to the landlord.

Updated Forclosure Tour

Foreclosure Tour in the Colorado Springs Real Estate Market, Video by Rob Reinmuth CDPE a Certified Distressed Property Expert, Acquire Homes, Inc. Homes for sale in Colorado Springs

Help For Buying Real Estate

Buying real estate is a major investment. It is one of the most expensive purchases a person will likely make in their lifetime. It involves a lot of work and can be very stressful. When buying land or property a person has to know what they are doing and be alert for anything that could hinder their dealings.

One of the first steps in buying real estate is getting the money. The majority of people do not have the type of money needed to buy, so they have to borrow it. Lenders love to loan money for real estate purchases because they are long term loans which make the lender lot of money. For the buyer, the terms and conditions of the loan are very important. They should make sure they get the best interest rate with minimal hidden fees.

After securing financing, the buyer can then begin to search for real estate to buy. The process of looking at and deciding upon a home is more than simply visiting and making sure it has all the comforts desired. When looking a buyer needs to be meticulous. They need to ensure there are no problems or hidden issues with the real estate. They should ask questions about everything. They should get details and if possible get any defects in writing. The buyer should completely understand that anything they do not find before closing on the property becomes their problem once they sign the papers.

Buying property is not clear cut. Prices are not set in stone and there is always room for negotiation. If possible a buyer should try to find out if the real estate they are buying is in high demand. If not, they can usually really work a good price. If the real estate has been on the market for quite some time then it is obviously not too in demand. This is a good clue that the price can really be negotiated in favour of the buyer.

It is also important for the buyer to have the home inspected and surveyed to ensure they are really getting what they are paying for. Having these things done before hand can really prove useful should something unexpectedly happen once the buyer takes possession of the property.

Buying real estate is a very serious matter. It involves a lot of money and a very long commitment. It is not something to jump into, nor something to be taken lightly. Buying land should be looked at as a major investment. It is going to both cost money and make money for the buyer. That is why the whole process should be done carefully.

$359000 Residential, Steamboat Springs, CO

Visit www.SteamboatAgent.com for additional information regarding this property. Cam Boyd at Prudential Steamboat Realty MLS #127432 Located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado From the large deck of this 3 bedroom townhome you�ll have a direct view of Howelsen Hill and Emerald Mountain. This corner unit offers fantastic privacy, a side yard area and lots of windows for exceptional natural light. Some of the accents that make this residence so quaint are the tongue and groove ceilings, stone embellished wood-burning fireplace and genteel kitchen cabinetry. The open kitchen and dining areas are partitioned with a large center island that offers the perfect workspace for whipping up a delicious meal or entertaining guests. The 3 bedrooms located upstairs are large in size and have great closet space. Located in one of Steamboat�s most desirable areas at the junction of Hilltop and Tamarack, access to the mountain and downtown is a breeze with striking mountain views! Residential $359000 1726 sf

Masks at MOCA Event- Ft. Collins, Colorado - StevenOchoa3

I created this Video for Mike & Marie Edwards of Fort. Collins, Colorado. They are both very hard workers and very dedicated to their Efforts, Success and Community. They are boh members of Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Arts, and have a fundraiser every year, involving the masks that are auctioned off. I wish the Museum much Success in raising the money they need. Their website is www.fcmoca.org - http - www.Realestatebyedwards.com - http

Why Do People Buy Property in Essex?

There are a great many locations around London to be considered as places to live. But property in Essex has risen to prominence a great deal in recent years and there are a number of reasons why. In this article we'll look at the reasons for its popularity.

One of the main reasons people consider Essex is the fact that it is good if you want to have regular contact with the countryside. Living in London, while it does offer a good range of parks and parkland, can sometimes seem a little claustrophobic. Most property in Essex would allow the residents to visit open countryside with relative ease.

Plus, if you still wish to do business in London, the links going to the capital from Essex towns are very good. The A12 is of particular importance from linking Essex to London. Depending on what time of day or night you travel, you can get there in around 2 hours - perhaps just 1 if you travel at night.

For really reliable, fast access to the city, you should understand that it only takes one hour to get to London from Colchester, and just 30 minutes to get to Chelmsford.

When it comes to shopping, too, Essex offers a wide range of shopping options. Romford, which is actually very close to London, has a great deal of shops to choose from for all kinds of people. The Lakeside Shopping Centre is another example of extreme shopping, where there are 300 shops. It is true to say that even people who live in London come out to the Lakeside to experience this full on shopping experience.

When partying is at the top of your agenda, you might want to think about Colchester as an option - a town that has been regarded as one of the UK's best nightspots. That's why among property in Essex, Colchester has also become a very popular place to buy a home.

For those in search of more countrified experiences, there are a great deal of locations that can be enjoyed by those who have property in Essex. Constable Country, while actually lying on the Suffolk-Essex border is within easy reach of many Essex towns. The location that inspired The Haywain is one of the particular hotspots.

Property in Essex looks set to increase in popularity for whole range of reasons. Ultimately, it combines the draws of the countryside with the attractions of London.

Top Realtors - How to Benefit on the Best Real Estate Market Has to Offer

Don't you just hate it when you have to sell your house and you have to endure a clumsy real estate agent? Not only you did not get a good deal on your house but you also have to suffer the stiffness the man did his job.

A real estate agent can help when you want to buy or sell a home, but it can also be awful hard to work with. That is way you need to choose top realtors to successfully buy or sell a house.

Top realtors are the ones that have the best results on today real estate market. Choosing one of them would make you feel confident and would increase your chances of success.

The efficiency of a top realtor is due to the long experience they have had on the market, which can be a great help in taking care of the details and negotiations. A top realtor will get you the best deal possible.

But what makes a realtor be the beast at what he does? Well, we already mention experience as one of the important things. A second one would be the affiliation to top agency as usually professionals work for highly respected companies while amateurs work for small or little known companies. A big agency has enough financial power to put your home on the market as it can afford to spend money on advertising.

The next reason why someone should look for top realtors involves a code of ethics published by the National Association of Realtors. While an average real estate agent simply has a real estate license, a realtor has to subscribe to the Realtor Code of Ethics to start working. This code of ethics consists of seventeen rules that a realtor swear to uphold and adhere.

Some of this rules state that the realtor has to put the interests of the costumers ahead of their own by not collecting commissions without the seller's knowledge or not co-mingling the client funds with his own. Although not all realtors subscribe in practice to these principals, top realtors always regard them as a priority in their work. For professionals quality services always come first.

Make no mistake about it, professionals always work better than average workers. Although it may be more expensive to hire one, a top realtor will not disappoint you.

Why Every Real Estate Agent Should Use Video Property Tours To Market Their Listings Online

The rise of Internet Video has opened up incredible opportunities for real estate sellers who want to market both their business and their property listings on the web. Since real estate is primarily a visual medium, it makes a lot of sense to take advantage of these new tools by showcasing your listings with video online. In fact, as a real estate seller you've probably heard this already somewhere within your immediate circle of influence. In this short piece we're going to explore why there's 'so much buzz' right now about video and podcasts inside the real estate industry, and also help explain how you can begin taking advantage of these new tools right away in order to start reaping the many rewards for your business.

Since over eighty percent of consumers looking for a property start their search on the Internet, using video podcasts enables you to offer your potential clients a compelling visual display of your property listings while also allowing them to find and identify your business across the web, wherever your videos are posted. In the heavily-populated realm of online real estate, this serves as a huge advantage to agents and sellers who are looking to "rise above the noise" online.

Today's real estate consumers want an experience, and they want it on the internet. In fact, over 80% of all home buyers begin their search on the web. By using video podcasts for your property listings, you can give your potential customers a better view of their new potential property or community while at the same time making you and your business much more marketable on the web. Experts predict that the number of online video-based home tours will multiply dramatically over the next couple of years due to several factors, including competition for listings and increasingly affordable and easy to use tools for real estate sellers looking to market their properties on the web.

For real estate agents, video podcasting takes the concept of a virtual tour to the "Web 2.0 level" by adding the power of broadcasting and RSS syndication to your listings. RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication', and it allows your viewers to 'subscribe' to your podcast channel so that they can receive your new podcast listings or updates as soon as they're created. This means that your potential clients do not have to go specifically to your web page to find and view your properties, as they can now find you all over the web and even receive your new video property listings however they prefer. The RSS feeds that accompany your media files will allow your viewers to subscribe to your videos for free, enabling them to receive your new video tours in their web browsers, cell phones, iPods and other mobile devices automatically.

For this reason, it's important to distribute your video content to the full range of internet destination sites which are aligned with the podcasting and web video mediums. A thorough distribution strategy greatly improves you own website's organic and direct referral Web traffic from search engines, and bett.

Speaking of search engines, Google recently announced that they are now including video clips in their organic search results, so a location in their top 10 just became a whole lot more valuable - and in many respects much more achievable. Yes - this IS a big deal! So who's going to claim these results? The agents and sellers who leverage video listings early...and also leverage them properly. Since professional podcasting services can help ensure that your video listings are correctly formatted and distributed to all of the best online podcast & video destinations, using such a service can help you attract amazing results in terms of your search engine visibility as soon as you begin broadcasting your video property listings across the internet.

If any of this sounds at all complicated, confusing, or time-consuming - it doesn't have to be! You can simply use a professional real estate podcasting service to handle all of the underlying technologies for you. This will help ensure that your video property listings get onto the web and out to your audience and potential customers without wasting your valuable time, costing you a lot of money or causing you to reinvent the wheel. As a real estate agent, we all know that you are likely very busy. If you fall into this category, then employing full-spectrum real estate podcasting service may just be the perfect solution right now for igniting your real estate business online!

Annual Ice Sculpture appearance in Cripple Creek, Colorado

Every year sculptures come to Cripple Creek and carve these magnificent figurines out of ice blocks

Increasing Response Rate in Your Real Estate Marketing

There are many ways to increase your response rate when marketing for your real estate investing business, but today I am going to talk specifically about a general one that can be applied to ALL of your marketing. This one simple method can be used to give you a small boost in response regardless of what type of media or message you are using, or what market you are targeting (the 3 Ms of Marketing). What is it? Give your market additional ways to respond.

It seems simple and it is, but it works. Here's the basic idea. Let's say you are running a small ad in a newspaper or on an on-line classified ad website. If you give only your telephone number as a way for people to request more information you'll get a certain response. However, if you include a telephone number and an e-mail address, you are very likely to get just about the same number of responses via telephone, but you're also likely to get some additional inquires via the e-mail address as well.

Why is that? Part of it has to do with preferences and ease of contact. Let's continue with the example above to illustrate this idea. If someone was reading the newspaper or an on-line classified ad website at, for instance, their public library, they might be much more inclined to drop you an e-mail instead of trying to call you from inside the library. It can work in the other direction just as easily though. What if they are in their car reading the newspaper and aren't near a computer to e-mail you. If you had only included your e-mail, you are out of luck. Since you included your phone too, you can get a call from their cell phone.

By offering several methods for someone to contact you in your marketing you often get a bump in response and the more you ad the better. It's not enough to say: phone and e-mail ought to do it. Maybe they want to see your website to get more info before contacting you. So, maybe you should include that. Maybe someone doesn't use e-mail, but would fax over an inquiry. Maybe someone wants to get more info from a recorded message. You might want to include that. The more methods someone has to respond to you usually means a slight improvement in the response rate overall.

So, when in doubt, and if it is possible to do so, let your target market decide how they want to inquire, but let them make that choice by giving them lots of ways to contact you.

1555 s Knox Ct Denver 80219

24 Hour Recorded Information (866) 993-3187 x 7426 Visit: COLORADOHOUSESTORE.COM Search ALL listed homes in Colorado from MLS Brandis Meeks 720-297-1692 Call me today about buying, selling or investing in real estate. Amazing Remodeled Home in Denver for under 170k!!! 3 Bed 1 Bath 1 Car Garage 1000 Sq Ft

Sedona Luxury Real Estate

Telluride Style in Sedona. This custom creek side residence features Colorado inspired architecture and design in Cross Creek Ranch, a gated community in Sedona bordered by National Forest, State Park, and Oak Creek. Single level home with all 4 bedrooms opening out onto covered patio with views and sounds of the rushing Oak Creek flowing nearby. The home faces directly towards the towering Sycamore trees and scattered river rocks and approx. 300 ft of creek frontage. Interior of home features Douglas Fir rough sawn beams to enhance the rustic charm. Gourmet kitchen features knotty alder cabinetry, a 6x8 island made of 3cm granite, Viking appliances, walk in pantry and separate wine storage room. Others rooms include a billiards room, exercise room, and home theater. The home is perfect for entertaining with its telescoping sliding doors which open the home to the creek side patio where you can enjoy the sounds and atmosphere of Oak Creek running through the back yard.

Learn the Abbreviated Language of Realty Agents

Sunday mornings with the newspaper real estate section can be daunting to home buyers and sellers. Figuring out the shorthand for popular home features takes an inquiring mind. Mark Nash, author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home takes the guess work out of listing sheets and classified residential real estate ads.

BOM! 3/2 F.S.TH,S/E Exp.,Wbfplc,2 Tan.Gar,S.S. Kit.,Motv. 1031 Sell. Mid 5's

What it really says: Back on market, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, fee-simple townhouse with south and east exposures, wood-burning fireplace, 2 tandem garage parking spaces, stainless steel kitchen appliances. Motivated seller needs to sell to meet guidelines for a 1031 exchange. Price $550,000.

What it really means: Either a contract fell-through (the buyers walked) or the sellers took the property off the market due to illness, repairs or the holidays. There are no homeowners association assessments because the townhouse is owned fee-simple. The indoor garage parking spaces are end-to-end or tandem. The seller who hasn't occupied the property because it is a 1031 exchange needs to sell within a short period of time to meet tax guidelines. Yes the price is fifty thousand over a half-a-million-dollars.

The run-up in real estate prices the last few years has created a new real estate speak. The shorthand used by agents can be difficult to decipher by home buyers and sellers, but don't be fooled by the lack of zeroes in prices or the use of friendly words in place of the real choice. It sounds a lot less expensive if you're looking in the 1.1 to 1.5 range than one million, one hundred thousand to one million, five hundred thousand. Plus "fixer-upper" sounds better than what it really is: tired. "As-is" translates into buyer beware.

Here are some additional abbreviations home buyers and sellers should become familiar with when interacting with real estate agents.

A/G. Above ground. Swimming pools that are above the ground or grade.

Accom. Accompany. Listing agent must show property.

A/C. Air conditioning. W for windows, CA for central air-conditioning.

Appl. Appliances. Kitchen and laundry.

Appt. Appointment. Shown by appointment only, don't ring the bell unannounced.

Approx. Approximately. Verify anything that is approximate.
As-is.

Assmt. Assessment. Annual, quarterly or monthly homeowners association charges to property owners.

Att. Attached. Any condominium, co-op, duplex, town home or two-flat that is attached to another unit.

A/I. Attorney and inspection. Defined period under terms of contract to purchase where both parties can have an attorney review the contract and the buyers can perform an inspection of the property at their expense.

Bsmt. Basement. Below grade or ground level.

Ba. Bathroom. Either half (no shower/tub), three-quarters (shower no tub) or full (tub and/or shower).

Br. Bedrooms. To qualify usually have to have a window and a closet otherwise a den or office.

BOM. Back on market. Was available, went off-market, now available again.

Bldg. Building. Such as high-rise (more than eight floors) or mid-rise (5-8 floors) or low rise (2-4 floors).

Cab. Cabinets. Kitchen or other built-in storage.

Canc. Canceled. A listing is no longer available.

Crpt. Carpet. Wall-to-wall and tacked down.

C/A. Central air-conditioning. Either originally built-in with duct-work or retrofitted as space-pak (spc pk).

CLD. Closed. A property that has been sold and the buyers have received title.

Const. Construction. New, recent or quality.

CTG. Contingent. A property is under contract with provisions that must be met. The buyers must sell their home (home sale=HS) or receive a commitment for a mortgage (mort).

Co-op. Cooperative. A form of ownership of an apartment (apt) or a commission paid to a real estate brokerage that procures a buyer for a property.

Det. Detached. A building that is not joined to another.

Din. Dining room. A separate space not combined (combo) with living room.

Dir. Directions. How to get to a specific property address.

D/W. Dishwasher. Built-in ( a fixture) or portable (personal property).

Dist. District. School (sch) or historic (hist).

DOM. Days on market. The length of time a property has been in the Multiple Listing Service (mls).

Drv. Driveway. A description follows of what the material is covering the driveway.

Ex. Expired. A listing period for a property has passed.

Excl. Exclusions. The sellers are taking grandmothers light fixture in the breakfast (brkft) room.

Exp. Exposure. Direction home or unit faces. E=East, W=West, S=South, N=North

Ext. Exterior. Features on the outside of a building and the grounds.

Fam. Family. Family room. Beware that use of this word can violate Fair Housing Laws.

Fin. Finished. Basements can be fully finished (full fin) or partially finished (part fin).

Fplc. Fireplace. Fireplaces can be gas (gas fplc) or wood burning (wb fplc).

Flr. Floor. Such as first floor master bedroom (1st flr mstr).

Grdn. Flower gardens or garden level. Can describe exterior landscaping or a interior living level that is partially below ground level.

Gar. Garage. A enclosed space for storage.

GFA. Gas forced air. A type of heating system.

Grt. Great room. A combined (combo) family, kitchen and breakfast room.

Hdwd. Hardwood floors. Beware softer woods are through into this category. Bamboo and poplar can't take the same wear and tear as maple and oak. Diagonal hardwood (d/hdwd) and parquet (parq) are other options.

HVAC. Heating,ventilating and air conditioning. Refers to an all-in-one heating and cooling system.

H/War. Home warranty. The sellers have purchased a warranty on the home to protect buyers from repair expenses.

Hr. Hour. 24 hour notice to tour a property.

Incl. Includes. Any items that would be considered personal property (pers prop) that the sellers are leaving in the home.

Int. Interior. As in decorating (decor) or professionally (pro) designed.

Kit. Kitchen. That's an easy one.

L. List price. The advertised price of a home.

Liv. Living room. A formal room typically adjacent to the front entrance of a home.

Loc. Located or location. Location rules in residential real estate.

LL. Lower level. A nice word for basement.

L.O. Listing office. The brokerage to contact concerning a specific listing.

Maint. Maintenance. Can apply to amount of work to maintain a home or what is included in the homeowners association charges to property owners.

MT. Market time. Same as days-on-market.

Mstr. Master bath or bedroom. The designated space where the homeowners bath and sleep.

Mech. Mechanical systems. The cooling, electrical, heating, and plumbing systems in a home.

MO. Month. Monthly assessments or month-to-month rental.

Ofc. Office. Home office (hom ofc) or office space (ofc spc).

O/M. Off-market. A property that has been withdrawn from the Multiple Listing Service.

Prkg. Parking. Options (opt) include off-street (off-st), space (spc) or covered (covd).

Pend. Pending. When a property in the MLS is under contract and close to closing or escrow.

Priv. Pvt. Private. Entrance (entr) or road (rd).

Poss. Possession. The date when a buyer can occupy (occ) a property.

PCHG. Price Change. The price has been lowered motivated or raised (difficult sellers).

Rm. Room.

S. Sale price. The recorded price a property sold for.

Scrnd. Screened. Lanai's (lan) or porches (por).

Sec. Security. System (sys) or building. Or a deposit (dep).

Sep. separate. Entrance or room not combined with another.

Sing Fam. single family home. A detached dwelling.

Slider. Sliding door(s). Usually pertains to sliding glass pr patio (pat) doors.

Sq ft. Square Feet. Verify all square footage measurements on home marketing materials.

Sty. Story. Describes the number of levels in a home.

Sty. Style. The architectural character of a home. Colonial (Col), ranch (ran) or traditional (trad).

Tx. Taxes. Property taxes for last (2005=05) attainable year (yr).

Thruout. Throughout. Hardwood floors in every room.

TH. Town home. Attached home.

Trans. Transportation. Convenient to buses, trains or highways (hwys).

U/C. Under contract. A property has a fully executed contract to purchase.

Util. Utility (ies). Cable, Electric, gas, oil and telephone services provided to a home.

Vin. Vintage. A home that was built prior to World War II.

W/D. Washer and dryer. Side by side (SBS) or stackable (stk).

W/. With. Wood burning fireplace with gas starter. Wbfp w/gas Str.

Wbfp. Wood burning fireplace.

Yd. Yard. Front, back or side landscaped areas.

And how about those capitalized initials after real estate agents names on their business cards, called Professional Designations. Here is a sample.

ABR Accredited Buyers Representative. Homebuyers should look for the Accredited Buyers Representative designation. The Real Estate Agent Council trains experienced real estate agents in specifically representing the real estate consumer.

CRS Certified Residential Specialist. Agents who hold the CRS designation have additional education and sales experience with focus on the latest in real estate professionalism, sales and marketing techniques.

GRI Graduate Realtor(R) Institute. Graduates of the REALTOR® Institute earn the GRI designation by completing a national program of advanced education consisting of residential marketing, cost basis, appreciation methods, investment and taxes in real estate, construction, exchanges, capital gains and mortgage programs.

Should I use a Realtor to Rent an Apartment?

" Are you considering using a real estate agent to assist you in renting your apartment? If so, you probably have a lot of questions about the process of doing so. Most importantly, you're probably wondering if it's something that's really a good idea or if you can go ahead and rent on your own without involving a professional. Whether or not to use a real estate agent when renting an apartment is mostly dependent upon your variety of needs. Personal factors such as your current stage in life, your familiarity with the city and your ability to negotiate a good rental agreement are things to consider as you determine whether or not you want to make use of a real estate agent for renting an apartment.

The first thing that you should consider is where you're at in your stage of life. If you're renting your very first apartment and you don't know anything about it, you might want the assistance of a real estate agent to help you learn all of the ins and outs about signing leases and getting renter's insurance. On the other hand, if you've been through a few moves and you know what you're getting into, you might not need a real estate agent. Yet again, if you're at an established point in your life and are too busy to do a lot of the hunting down and researching that comes with renting an apartment, you may want to spend the money to get a real estate agent to do that for you. Think about the reasons that you might want a real estate agent in regards to how knowledgeable you are about renting and how much time you have to devote to the process.

Another think to think about is how well you know your neighborhood. If you've been living in the same city for your entire life and are familiar with all of the ins and outs, you'll know about the "good" and "bad" neighborhoods without having to get any advice. But if you've just moved to a new location, you might want the assistance of a real estate agent to help you figure out if the apartment you're renting is cheap because it's a good deal or cheap because you aren't going to want to step outside of your front door at night. Your real estate agent can also help identify such things as how easy your commute will be from a certain area.

Finally, think about how capable you are of negotiating your rental agreement. Some people simply aren't good at the art of negotiation; they give in too easily and let people walk all over them. If you know that you have these tendencies, you might want to hire a real estate agent to assist you in renting an apartment simply for the reason that they'll be able to negotiate on your behalf. He or she can work out details like how repairs will be taken care of, what kind of notice must be given for different actions, and other terms of your lease.

Is it necessary to get a real estate agent to assist you in renting an apartment? No, of course not. You can easily go look at apartments yourself, sign the given rental agreements and deal with the consequences. But if you don't have the time to find the right apartment, lack the skills to negotiate a good deal for yourself or are concerned about your lack of area knowledge when moving to a new city, then using a real estate agent might ease the process."

About the Multiple List Services

Most large cities have a network called Multiple Listing System or MLS. This is used by most real estate companies, mortgage companies and advertising services. This is a national listing service and offers host of information from finding out what your home is worth if you are selling, to other types of companies or services that are needed in a real estate transaction.

The MLS shows all the listings for an area giving all the pertinent information on homes with the criteria that you have requested. This system allows realtors to show their homes to potential buyers in any area. However, it is also useful in helping you to locate a realtor. Most of the respected names in real estate use this service. Not only does it get their name out to the world, it promotes their listings to buyers across the nation. Usually if you are searching for a home you can go to websites like http://www.realtor.com, and it will let you search for homes in certain areas. However, when you find a house you like or want more information on, those sites will show you the MLS# or the Multiple Listing Service number. You can call the realtor listed for that property, give them the MLS number and no matter whose listing it is, they can get you information.

The multi list system is a database of information that realtors input data in on houses that they have listed for sale. The system also allows for documents like surveys and disclosures to be scanned in to the system and then all of it can be emailed to potential buyers.

Using the Denver MLS system allows you to search by the newest listings, by price range, number of bedrooms and by any city in the state of Colorado. There is a host of options once you get into the multiple listing services for the Denver Metro area. If you are planning a home finding trip or are being relocated to the Denver area, then this database will definitely benefit you no matter where you are looking to live.

If you are selling your home this is also a good way to find out exactly what you home is worth, what properties are selling for in your area, and how many properties you are competing against. The multiple listing systems gives you information such as room size, land size or lot size, any special information about the property such as home owners associations, and it will also give you the last known tax amount.

Just as with any database, the information in the system is only as good or accurate as the person providing the information. You should still try to verify as much of the info as possible. Realtors in Denver and the metro area use this system to assist buyers and sellers alike. They don't have to just rely on hand written list any more, or make unnecessary trips to meet people when the home may not even be what that person wants. Now, they have thousands of listings at their fingertips providing possible dream homes to new families moving into the Denver Metro area.

Northglenn , Colorado Home For Sale

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Instructing a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

It is perfectly possible to appoint more than one agent when selling your pride and joy, but this does depend on what type of contract you have with your agency. It is imperative that you proceed with caution before instructing a second agent. As with all contracts in all things you should read the small print carefully.

It is there for a reason, and many an unwary customer has tripped over the tiny print. You wouldn't be the first. If there is anything you do not understand or are confused by, then seek out appropriate professional advice. Don't sign anything until you are 100% satisfied and don't accept the agency's advice as gospel here because at this point they are not looking out for your interests, they are looking out for their own.

In short there are five different contracts you could sign with a real estate agency. Make sure that you know the differences and make sure that you know which one it is that is presented to you.

SOLE SELLING:

With a sole selling agreement the real estate agency always retains the right to charge you commission on the sale of your home even if you find the eventual buyer quite independently of the agent. You can't avoid the fee by doing the work yourself. If you try to do so you could end up being sued.

SOLE AGENCY:

With a Sole Agency agreement the agent is still the only agency granted rights to sell your property, but there is now no commission due to the agency if you find the eventual buyer yourself. Check the small print that this is indeed the case before you sign the agreement. If in doubt ask the agency to confirm the point in writing.

MULTIPLE AGENCY:

You have the right to appoint more than one agent to try and sell your home if you choose to, but you only have to pay a selling commission to the successful agent that sells the property. Multiple agency agreements often stipulate a higher than normal percentage commission rate. Check that fact and the point that you will only be liable for one fee in any event.

JOINT SOLE AGENCY:

In the case where you appoint two or more agents to work together to sell your home they will split the fee equally between themselves when the property is sold irrespective of who is responsible for the sale. Make sure the small print says what you think it says. Don't be confused by legalese and gobbledegook. Insist terms are written in plain English.

READY WILLING & ABLE:

This a quite rare and crazy type of agreement that should be avoided at all costs. In effect it states that if the agent finds you a buyer and you pull out of the sale for any reason, you will still be required to pay the agent their fee, even if you never sell your property and never move out. Why anyone would knowingly agree to such an agreement is a mystery and probably comes back to the point of the seller not reading and not understanding the small print in the first place.

The vast majority of agents are honest and hardworking but there is always the occasional bad apple in every barrel. You can help to protect yourself by reading and understanding the small print on all documents presented to you. The most important thing of all is that if you do not understand anything do not be afraid to seek out independent professional advice. That will give you all the reassurance you need.

Boulder Real Estate Old North Boulder Neighborhood

zacharyepps.com The area between Broadway, Folsom, Iris, and Edgewood/Balsam streets is now commonly called the Old North Boulder neighborhood. See more useful Boulder real estate market information at www.zacharyepps.com Prior to the time that land was developed beyond Norwood, this area was North Boulder. Now with development stretching to the far reaches of the Dakota Ridge neighborhood, the Old North Boulder neighborhood is really a very central residential opportunity. I've spent many days exploring on foot, the roads and paths around central Boulder, and if you do the same you'll come to realize just how close everything is in this part of town. It's only a few blocks between local landmarks such as Vics and Ideal Market, over to Pearl Street, or up to Salberg Park. The two sister shopping centers, Ideal Marketplace and Community Plaza are home to many local favorites. Ideal Market has a long history that spans well beyond the age of the current shopping center, and it became an anchor for the other shops back in 1958. The Community Plaza shops on the south side of Alpine were built just two years later in 1960. Other businesses such as Alpine Barbers, Radda Restaurant, Breadworks, Marie's Restaurant, The Boulder Wine Merchant, and the Pekoe Sip House give residents of the Old North Boulder neighborhood a plethora of opportunity for meeting most shopping needs without much travel. What a great concept in the days of higher gas prices and strong desires to conserve ...

Bill Fandel

Bill Fandel of Sotheby's International Realty is the real estate professional to choose when looking for luxury real estate in the Town of Telluride, Colorado.

21426 East Tallkid Avenue in Parker, Colorado

Welcome to 21426 East Tallkid Avenue in the award-winning neighborhood of Idyllwilde in Parker, Colorado. This wonderful four bed three bath homes backs to open space and has spectacular mountain views. There is a finished basement and a 3-car tandem garage. Please call Jim Parker today, at 303-419-9752 for a private showing.

Cielo Grande Tract 7

Cielo Grande Tract 7

Sell Your Home and Rent it Back to Stop Repossession - Fight the Credit Crunch

Preventing home repossession in the face of the UK's falling economy

many people like you are being subjected to eviction notices and threats of repossession after not being able to keep up mortgage payments since the rise of interest rates across the UK.

This has meant new solutions are being developed to tackle this new financial epidemic that is sweeping the nation.

I am now going to introduce you to a concept that is raising in popularity as a primary solution for those that are in the situation were they have no choice but to be repossessed. It is called a "Sell & Rent Back Scheme"

so imagine the situation, your just days from being evicted everything so far has fialed to delay or prevent this from happening, the only way you can stop it is to come up with the money to pay off the outstanding balance, its not enough time to put your self on the market and start finding buyers you may have already tried.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone could come out value your house and give you a quote on the spot that would wipe all your debt and then allow you to stay in the house as a tenant?

Well that is exactly how the "Sell & Rent Back Scheme" works. Now don't get me wrong this is nothing new it has been around for a while and is useful for other situations other than repossession, but as far as repossession goes it fits the bill as a solution perfectly.

When you enter one of these agreements it is also possible to make an arrangement to buy back the property at a later date if you financial situation improves, depending on the agreement that you come to maybe at even a discounted rate.

As you can see as alternative to being forced from your home this can be a very good solution for people in these situations, most of the company's that specialise in this field offer free no obligation advise to help you make the best decision about your circumstance.

As everyone's situation is different they may be other options available to you that they could find. Its always best to get professional advice before making a decision on your own.

Buying a Home - Home Warranty Secrets They Don't Want You to Know

As you near the end of your home buying transaction, one of the last priorities is the option of selecting a home warranty. These type of warranties are set up to fix and substitute covered broken or worn items with new ones. If you think your next property could be headed for some maintenance issues, make sure you apply for one prior to the closing of escrow.

Your home warranty will spell out which mechanical systems and built-in appliances will be covered. Most policies are written to repair and replace items such as plumbing, heater, and electrical components. If you're willing to invest more money, you can purchase additional coverage for items such as the air conditioner, whirlpool jacuzzi, pool, and roof. If a situation occurs where you have a breakdown with any of these items you can pick up the phone and contact your warranty company to determine what the problem is. If the warranty company agrees with you that the repair is part of your benefits you'll need to contribute a predetermined amount of money to cover parts and labor which can cost you between 60 to 100 dollars.

If you decide to check into the customer complaint history of most home warranty companies, you'll be disappointed to learn most companies have piles of complaints filed against them. Many homeowners are angry when they uncover the hidden pre-existing condition clause which prevents coverage on pre-existing issues. If you were checking out the warranty policy that has this pre-existing condition clause make sure you understand your policy will not cover you for any new problems.

You'll also find most home warranty policies have extra exclusions which include repairs as a result from poor maintenance or servicing, faulty installations, and areas the inspector could not access. Some policies even refuse to cover the repair until you invest additional funds to upgrade the system to modern day building codes. Make sure you understand that most warranty policies won't cover repairs if they're not caused by everyday wear and tear.

If you shop around, you'll discover most warranty policies are priced somewhere between $300 to $1000 per year depending on the home size and type of benefits you choose. As you search for your new home, you'll find most sellers willing to include the first year of coverage as a gift for buying their home. Even your agent may even be willing to pay for the first year so that you'll be satisfied with their service.

But if you have to cover the full cost of the home warranty policy, you're probably smarter if you invest money each month towards an annual repair fund to cover unplanned repair problems. You should aim for a goal of $5000 each year to cover future repairs.

However not all warranty policy holders are unhappy with their policies. If you look hard enough, you can find a caring and helpful technician who gets the warranty business to cover the repair. Make sure you thoroughly checked out each warranty policy and understand all exclusions.

If you live in a state that contains a government agency which supervises home warranty companies, inspect the prospective company's complaint history before you sign up with them.

Mandatory Real Estate Disclosure - How Much Do Sellers Have to Tell?

Real estate disclosure laws are changing constantly, and even the experts don't always agree on what a seller of residential property must tell a prospective buyer. Up until about 50 years ago, there was little, if any, legislation requiring sellers to disclose a property's defects. If there was a problem and the buyer didn't find out before closing, he was typically out of luck.

We live in a different world today. With the advent of the consumer protection movement in the late 1960s, we have seen thousands of state and federal regulations as well as court decisions that affect the seller's responsibilities for disclosure in real estate transactions.

There are two primary reasons for understanding disclosure laws: One is so you do the right thing when you are selling; the other is so you know what to ask when you are buying. Laws vary widely by state, which is why you need to consult with an attorney or other expert knowledgeable in this area to make sure you are in compliance with laws that apply to you. Here are some general issues to keep in mind when it comes to disclosure:

Disclose all known serious defects. If you know of dangerous wiring, a leaky roof, flooding basement, termites, rotting wood, malfunctioning heating or air conditioning units, or any other defect that could lead to extensive and expensive property damage, personal injury, or death, disclose it. Disclose environmental hazards such as mold, mildew, lead paint, asbestos, radon, and so on. If you're not sure if a particular defect rises to the level of "serious," disclose it anyway. Failing to do so could leave you open to charges of attempting to intentionally mislead a buyer.

Disclose other material facts. Material facts are anything, including defects, that could affect the buyer's decision to purchase or the price and terms of the deal. For example, if the home had been a crime scene or if a death (even a death from natural causes) occurred on the property, you should disclose that. One caveat when it comes to this: if the death was due to AIDS, check with a real estate lawyer before making the disclosure because in some states, AIDS falls into a protected class and the disclosure could subject you to discrimination claims.

If you know of any previous activity in the house that could affect future residents, disclose it. For example, a Colorado law that became effective in 2007 requires sellers of houses, condos, apartment buildings, and hotels to certify that the property has never been used to manufacture methamphetamine or, if it has, that the property has been cleaned up according to state standards. Many states require that purchase agreements and leases contain a notice that a database with information about registered sex offenders may be accessed by buyers and tenants.

Disclose external issues. Tell buyers about any external issue that may affect the property, such as natural hazards, flood zones, earthquakes, noise, various types of pollution, and any other nearby hazard. If you are aware of potential zoning changes of either the property you are selling or of adjacent properties, or of developments such as roadways or other construction that might impact the property, disclose that. Disclose the presence of easements, encroachments, or boundary disputes. It might seem absurd to suggest that a California property owner make a disclosure about earthquakes or that a seller of a home on a golf course warn about possible damage from errant golf balls, but in our litigious society, it's better to disclose and be safe (though you might feel silly) than to fail to disclose and risk being sued.

Of course, you can't disclose something you don't know, but don't count on ignorance as a defense. Some states require owners to perform certain investigations, so be sure you know what your legal obligations are.

Avoid puffing. "Puffing" is making statements that sound good but contain no facts. While statements such as "great neighborhood," "quiet streets," or even "super deal" are common in advertisements, they should not be offered or accepted as disclosure.

A real estate broker, an attorney, or your state department of real estate can provide you with a complete list of the disclosures required in your state. If you disclose all material facts upfront, the buyer should address them in the purchase offer and will have no contractual right to negotiate them later.

Perhaps the best rule for sellers to follow is this: If you would want to know about the issue before you purchased the property, tell the buyer before you finalize the negotiations.

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Short Sales, Part 2

The discussion continues about short sales with real estate agents Ron Woodcock and Billie Jo Downing. Topics in this clip: How to approach buying or selling a home as a short sale. Avoiding scams. Why a short sale might be a better purchase than a foreclosed property.

122 acropolis video

4 minute video of 122 Hilltop in Pagosa Springs Colorado 1 hour east of Durango.

Richard Roop's Colorado Mountain Home and Party House featured on HGTV

Richard Roop's family home in Woodland Park, Colorado used to be a fitness center. It was converted into a southwestern style luxury home by the previous owners. That transformation was featured on HGTV. Roop, a real estate investing trainer, author and coach entertains clients and students on his home. The home features a rare (for Colorado mountains) outdoor swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, indoor basketball court and gym, home theater, game rooms, locker room, Pikes Peak views, the city's only racquetball court and it still has the original water fountain. www.richardroop.com www.facebook.com twitter.com

Agents of Charity - Real Estate Gives Back

Too often in today's real estate industry, good works sit unnoticed under the piles of corporate greed and lust money. When the bottom line for a real estate company is also the line in the sand, the agents don't dare do anything to toe it. Pushed to the forefront are stories of stock prices, revenue projections, and profit margins. What many would see if they dig a little deeper, maybe read past the first page, is that many corporations do indeed give back to their respective communities in ways big and small. This practice has become especially prominent in the real estate industry.

Take for example a couple of real estate agents in Lavallette, New Jersey. Just last month Stephanee Mirachi, who is the Executive Assistant to Broker/Owner Lee Childers of Childers Sotheby's International Realty, and Budd Rall, Sales Associate from the Childers Sotheby's Lavallette/Ortley Beach office, participated in the 15th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights, to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey.

The air was frigid and the snow was fresh as the stage was set the day before the event by a snowstorm hitting the area. Despite the snow and the 38 degree water temperature, nearly 3,000 volunteers showed up alongside Mirachi and Rall to take the plunge. While the temperature was low, the donations were high. The event raised over $750,000 for Special Olympics that will go towards free year round programs that are available to adults and kids with intellectual disabilities.

In Minneapolis, brokers from area commercial real estate firms get together once a year to play in a charity hockey game. The Opus Cup is in its ninth year, and crowds turn out to watch these men hit the ice, and sometimes each other, all in the name of charity. Some are seasoned hockey players that played in college. Both goalies in this year's game played college hockey. Don't be fooled- this game is highly competitive and features a number of players who are just as comfortable skating around an ice rink as they are showing people around a property. The event benefits the charity "Hope for the City", founded by Welsh Company CEO Dennis Doyle. Hope for the City collects and redistributes overstocked items such as food, clothing, and medical supplies. Last year the event raised over $27,000.

In New Jersey, commercial real estate firm Matrix Development Group bought two office buildings and nine acres of parking lots in Brunswick. Rather than settling for just a corporate presence in the community, President and Chief Executive Joseph Taylor began looking for a way to integrate the company into the community in a charitable fashion. Matrix is currently the backer for Elijah's Promise. The charity is a Soup Kitchen, Counseling Center, and Catering School. In 2007 there were approximately 95,000 meals served to the needy at Elijah's Promise.

The New York Times recently ran a piece about charity in the real estate industry. That is how relevant and prevalent the two have become together. Within the real estate industry, companies are not only looking to put their stamp on a market by selling homes or commercial properties. From heartfelt grassroots efforts like Kelli Bennett's to big time undertakings such as Matrix's Elijah's Promise, real estate agents and companies are leaving their mark on communities and touching people's lives every day through ongoing charity work and charity events that are embraced by everyone in the area. Agents once thought of as slick salespeople have been rebranded as agents of change and agents of charity simply by keeping it real.

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Cheap Houses in UK - Real Housing Ladder

As more and more property owners are adding UK investment properties to their portfolios and it's is getting very rare to find cheap houses easily in UK. As you know that in recent years, interest rates and stock market returns have been low. Property owners have started to notice that their home is their highest performing asset. Buying cheap houses are truly wonderful offers especially for a house dreamer like you. To buy cheap houses in UK search online! You will get a many UK property websites which have numerous UK investment properties. It will offer a path to build cheap house as a personal property with minimal risk and maximum outputs.

If you get cheap houses in UK without bargaining and can't find any other reasons why the price is low, there may be some hidden problems. This is especially true in case if the property seller is a property investor, or seems knowledgeable about real estate. Search and identify the problems and, if they can be resolved, estimate the cost of cheap house to see if the house is still a good deal. Have inspection carefully if you are deciding to buy that types of cheap houses, and get those inspections done.

Many good websites offering you cheap houses at an affordable rate in the form of a property investment. Property investors can consider looking into the market for cheap houses. There are property agents who can assist you to buy cheap houses from them. There are also magazines and listing that feature available cheap houses in UK as an investment properties. Some cheap houses are built up insanely steep driveways. Others are built halfway underground. If the unique features are in demand, these homes can sell for a healthy premium. If they are not they become cheap houses.

Cheap houses that are unique in ways that the general public doesn't value will be hard to sell, so it may not be a good property investment decision. On the other hand, what if such cheap houses fit your needs and you will be living there for a long time?

Cheap houses with bad neighborhoods are common combinations. So, think first before purchasing a cheap house! Is it a good purchase? That could be the worst property investment if the neighborhood is still declining. Once you know the tricks how to get cheap houses in Uk as a property investor, then you will make the necessary networks of property owners, you need to break into territory that are normally available out there to the public.

Magnificent Estate at 661 Summer Mist, Castle Rock, CO 80104

A magnificent Colorado home on over 5 acres in Castle Rock, the county seat of Douglas County, Colorado

$795000 Residential, Edwards (Singletree), CO

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Flat Fee Discount Brokers? Do They Save You Money Or Cost You Money?

Fees can range anywhere from $200-$650. Realtor commissions are based on 3%-6%. 3% to list your property and 3% to a co broker for bringing buyer. These numbers are not set in stone, especially in todays current real estate market they are negotiable. In the past when the real estate market was flowing these flat fee brokers were popping up by the hundreds everyday. The claim is to save you big bucks because of paying a one time flat fee of listing your property on the Mls, instead of paying a Real Estate Agent a commission to do so. Savings can be substantial 3% .

When using a flat fee broker it is almost as if you were doing a FSBO (for sale by owner). If you find your own buyer than you could also eliminate the co brokers 3% and save additional money. The potential downside to this is that you are representing your self and will need to arrange for services such as a real estate attorney or title company to handle the closing. If you are new to this it can be overwhelming.

In my experience as a top producing licensed Realtor in Florida I try explain the advantages of using the flat fee services compared to what services I offer my clients. You pay for what you get. If you have tried to sell a home as I an FSBO , you will know exactly what I am talking about.

I will outline some of the key differences why you Should use a Realtor.

1. A seasoned Realtor will guide you step by step through the entire process from start to finish.

2. How to prepare your house with curb side appeal.

3. The ability to discuss with other Realtors the results of showings and what improvements need to be made.

4. Dealing with buyers instead of you (the owner) is extremely significant.

5. Buyers are trying to gain advantage in the negotiation process looking for reasons to lower the value and signs from an owner that he is having financial difficulties.

6. Marketing the property. Most FSBO do not have the tools to market the property, the MLS itself will not sell a property.

7. Determining todays market value for selling your property based on a current detailed comparative market analysis (CMA).

These are just some of the reasons why I think you should use a Realtor. Yes, in the short term you will save some money by listing your property with a flat fee broker, but I believe with current market conditions you can find an experienced Realtor who will take less than the 3% to list your property and give you all the benefits you get with his/her experience and the avenues of promoting your home.

What sells a home in todays market? The right price and doing your research CMA (comparative market analysis of what has sold in the past 30-90 days and compete directly with the lowest house listed in your area with compatible square footage , features etc.

Buying And Selling A House As - Is In Florida

Buying and selling a home "as-is" Buying and Selling "As-Is". I recently overheard a person who is buying a home state that they would never want to buy a home "As-Is". While I understand the concerns, I suggest that a home buyer or seller should review the contracts and work with appropriate professionals. I've come to realize that this is one of the most confusing points that exist in Florida real estate. I've heard buyers, sellers, experienced real estate professionals, and even attorneys misstate the benefits and woes of the "As-Is" contract. I'll try to simplify this very confusing concept and hopefully reduce some unneeded stress.

One important thing to understand is that an as-is transaction is very similar to a traditional transaction but is either (a) agreed to using a different form or (b) agreed to using the traditional contract for sale and purchase with an addendum that modifies the original contract. In other words, the vast majority of the terms and conditions are the same.

Florida Association of Realtors Contracts Let's discuss the most common Florida's home sales contracts. The Florida Association of Realtors has approved multiple contracts for use in Florida. Some of these were created in conjunction with the attorneys from the Florida BAR Association. The contracts are known by acronyms:

FAR Contract - standard contract approved by the Florida Association of Realtors
FAR As/Is Contract - As-Is contract approved by the Florida Association of Realtors
FAR As/Is Addendum - Addendum to the FAR Contract that effectively converts it into an As/Is.
FAR/BAR Contract - traditional contract approved by the Florida Association of Realtors and the Florida Bar Association
FAR/BAR As/Is Contract - As-is contract approved by the Florida Association of Realtors and the Florida Bar Association
FAR/BAR As/Is Addendum - Addendum to the FAR/BAR contract that effectively converts it into an As-is.
Adams, Cameron & Co. operates in Volusia and Flagler Counties on the east coast of Central Florida. In these areas the FAR/BAR contracts are far more common so I will use them in my examples.

However, the same comments should apply to both agreements. In the FAR/BAR contracts, there are four pages. The first two pages contain a number of areas that can be filled in by a real estate professional. They contain the meat of the agreement and most of the terms that are likely to be negotiated. The remaining two pages contain additional terms and conditions which are intended to outline the specifics.

Traditional Contract The primary differences between a traditional contract and an as-is contract revolve around two of these paragraphs. Paragraph D of the contract deals with wood destroying organisms. Wood destroying organisms include termites and other pests which can damage a home. To summarize the paragraph, it says that if, after the contract has been signed by both parties, the buyer has a licensed inspector or Florida certified pest control operator review the property and find wood destroying organisms then the seller will be responsible for paying to get rid of the pests and correcting any resulting damage caused by the infestation. It also provides for a maximum amount the seller will have to pay (typically 1.5% of the purchase price).

Since the seller will probably have to correct the problem regardless of who the buyer is, and since the seller is obligated to disclose the fact that the wood destroying organisms exist, it is likely that they will go ahead and have the pests dealt with anyway. However, this solution allows for an out for both buyer and seller in various situations.

Similar to paragraph D is Paragraph N of the FAR/BAR contract. Paragraph N says that there may be other damage to the home which the seller will have to repair. For example, if a buyer's home inspection shows material damage to the roof then the buyer may demand that the seller fix those problems up to a fixed price (typically 1.5% of the purchase price again). Again, it is usually in the seller's best interest to go ahead with the repairs.

As-is Contract An as-is contract is effectively an alternative to the rules listed in the paragraphs D and N of the traditional contract. In fact, if you look at either of these paragraphs in an as-is contract they will show "DELETED". Instead of the strategy outlined above, an as-is contract includes a broader inspection period. The inspection period can be set for any period of time and is typically up to 15 days for a residential contract. During that time the buyer should have any inspections performed that they feel are necessary. That includes a traditional home inspection, a pest inspection for wood destroying organisms and anything else that they feel is important. Here's the kicker: at any time during the inspection period, the buyer "in the buyer's sole discretion" can determine that they are not satisfied with the results of the inspections and can cancel the contract.

If defects in the home are found, the buyer can cancel or the buyer and seller may renegotiate the contract in order to find an appropriate solution. The seller is not obligated to fix anything but he or she may be willing to make certain concessions in order to see the contract to closing. In addition, once the seller is aware of any material defects, they will have to be disclosed to future potential buyers. The buyer has a guaranteed out and loses only the cost of the inspections.

Common misconceptions First, it is important to understand that buying a house is not like buying something at a garage sale. An as-is sale does not mean that the seller can hide known damage from a buyer. A seller and their agent are required by Florida law to disclose all known defects that could materially affect the value of the house. A seller who withholds valuable information can be held liable for his actions regardless of whether the transaction is conducted "as-is".

There is no such thing as "selling as-is". Before all the Realtors out there jump at that one, let me explain. Most multiple listing services have a way to mark that a seller would like an as-is contract. Also, an advertisement can say that a home is being sold as-is. However, a buyer can submit any offer. Further, it is the duty and responsibility of a listing agent to forward any offer that is presented. So, a buyer can submit an as-is offer on a home that has not been listed as-is. Likewise, a traditional offer can be submitted for a home that has been advertised as-is. By way of example, a seller who is trying to sell her home for $400,000 as-is may get two offers. One for $350,000 on an as-is contract and another for $400,000 on a traditional contract. The seller could determine that selling as-is is not worth $50,000 and accept the larger dollar amount. The seller could also make a counter offer to the higher contract and include an as-is rider if she feels very strongly about it. At the end of the day, marketing a house as as-is is a request from the seller to the buyer as to the type of offer she would like to see.

Another common misconception is that an as-is sale means something is wrong with a house. It is often the case that buyers assume that sellers are trying to hide defects by selling as-is. As such, they may be wary of buying a house marketed as-is. In reality there are occasions that fine houses are marketed as-is and there are situations in which houses with greater needs are marketed traditionally. In common practice it seems that the as-is moniker is simply used in some marketing and not in others.

While the traditional contract does include language to provide a warranty from the seller to the buyer that an as-is contract does not, the strength of it is rudimentary. It says, in effect, that the structure of the house (roof, walls, foundation) does not have visible leaks or structural damage and that the mechanics of the house (plumbing, electrical, etc.) are in working order. On the whole, the variance between these types of damage and those that must be reported when disclosing material defects is not that great. Furthermore, it is likely that a home inspection would find the type of defect which would be covered by this seller's warranty.

Another common point of confusion is between a seller's warranty and a home warranty. A home warranty is an insurance policy that may be included with a sales transaction. The buyer, seller or both can purchase the policy. These small insurance policies are offered by companies such as American Home Shield and 2-10. The policies typically cost less than $500 and insure the plumbing, electrical, appliances, pool, etc. against breakdowns. A seller can get coverage from the time the house is for sale, through closing, and for another year for the buyer. The policies offer a safety net for the buyer and can help smooth the transaction. They are not all inclusive but they can also reduce the likelihood that there will be large problems after the closing for the buyer and seller to end up arguing about.

Summary As a buyer, there is a certain amount of comfort in submitting an as-is contract. Because of the inspection period there is an absolute out during the term of the inspection period. In fact, by putting up a deposit and entering into an as-is agreement with a seller, the buyer has effectively placed an option on the purchase of the house for the term of the inspection period and for the cost of any interest lost on the deposit. As a buyer, this gives an opportunity to become intimately familiar with the property while being sure that the terms of the contract will not be adjusted and that the seller will not sell to someone else. Therefore, despite the stigma that comes to mind when a buyer hears "as-is" it is typically a good way to go.

From a seller's perspective, as-is initially sounds great. It brings to mind the idea that I can ignore disclosing all of those little issues associated with the house and find a buyer who can deal with them. That is simply not the case. Caveat emptor ("Let the buyer beware") does not apply. In reality, marketing a property "as-is" may have a negative effect on buyer's perceptions. In addition, the as-is contract puts the buyer in a position to act on any buyer's remorse that they may feel after the contract is inked. The inspection period on the contract becomes a waiting game while we hope that the buyer is satisfied. In most Realtor Associations the property can not be marketed as active in the Multiple Listing Service but needs to be flagged as either "Pending" or "Contingent" or some other designation that will remove it from many searches.

At the end of the day, there are always going to be defects of some type in a house. As-is contracts do not solve the problems. As a seller the contract doesn't have the magic bullet that will pass them along to the buyer. From a buyer's perspective, neither a traditional contract nor an as-is contract will guarantee that I have a perfect house or that the seller will fix everything.

Conclusion When selling a house, it is not typically in your best interest to market the house as-is. The protection that you would think to gain from those two little words just isn't there. It may be a turn off to concerned buyers who will never make an offer. Further, the contract hands the buyer much more power than they would otherwise have. Instead, offer a home warranty, disclose material facts, and market it in the best light possible.

As a buyer, an as-is contract is nothing to be afraid of. Regardless of the type of contract, home inspections should be performed. A qualified professional who inspects homes will likely be the best way to find the issues of which you need to be aware. You should always request and review the seller's disclosure statement which lists their knowledge of defects. In addition, ask for a home warranty in the contract. Even if you never need it, it's a nice feature to have.

Paul Barrow - Speech on Denver Real Estate Housing Market

Excerpts from speech to Real Estate Investment Club at the Denver Athletic Club about housing market conditions in Denver, Colorado. Where to buy in expansion markets, when to buy, rentals, investment ideas.

Working With Real Estate Agents When Buying Subject to Or on a Lease Option

If a seller is working through a real estate agent, the process of transforming the seller into a motivated seller becomes a bit more difficult; however, it can be done using creativity and persistence. Agents and brokers typically list houses and want to be paid a commission once the house sells. Getting a seller to deed you their house is hard because of the following:

Most agents want to be paid cash for their commission. And most of the time when you buy a house "subject to", it is because they owe too much on the house for a cash offer, and agents may think, often incorrectly, that there is not enough cash to pay a real estate commission in cash.
Most agents do not understand the concept of buying a house "subject to" or on a lease option and many will discourage the seller from considering such offers.
Agents have told the seller they can sell their house for cash, and the seller is expecting to bring them a cash buyer.
Do not be discouraged in these situations. If you strongly believe the seller will benefit from working with you and is properly motivated to sell their property, be creative and persistent. Here is one way you can work with the real estate agent to attain the end result that will benefit all parties involved.

Agents may be more inclined to work with you if they cannot get a particular house sold and if the seller's situation is conducive to your solution of buying the house subject to the existing financing. In this case, you can offer to pay the real estate agent their commission on the amount with which you buy the house; however, you will only pay this commission once you close on the house with a buyer. This can be a year, two or three later. This situation typically works well for the real estate agent, the seller and yourself in situations where the property is unlikely to sell traditionally and the agent will not be paid at all.

NoCo Past, Present, and Future

Learn about Northern Colorado's growth trends as Windsor, CO native and real estate developer, Martin Lind, shares some historical facts and emerging data. A Golden Triangle is becoming the epicenter of growth for Northern Colorado, according to Lind, and Windsor happens to be at its core.

Sunny Day Real Estate - J'nuh - 9/21/2009

Sunny Day Real Estate playing J'nuh at the Ogden Theatre in Denver CO on September 21, 2009. The four original members of the band are back together and touring with songs mostly off Diary and LP2.

real acreage at 2560 S. Steele St, Denver, Colorado

Video tour of brand new, custom luxury home for sale in the Observatory Park neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Offered for sale by: Brian Jones and Craig Burns, The Burns and Jones Group, Prudential Colorado Real Estate, 303-319-1740

Selling Strategy in Slow Real Estate Markets

The first half of this decade was a seller's delight. Now the worm has turned and buyers are in the catbird's seat. Although the market is currently slow, you can still get the sale with the right strategy.

The first half of this decade represented the ideal time to be a home owner. If you just sat on your home, appreciate rates were so robust as to probably have doubled the value of your home with the exception of a few states in the country, notably Colorado and Texas. If you decided to sell, it was often like stealing candy from a baby. Buyers were foaming at the proverbial mouth, prices were skyrocketing and offers rolled in on just about any property out there. As we head into the later years of the decade, the leverage in the market has switched to the buyers. Prices are down, appreciation rates are flat and selling a home can be difficult. If you need to sell, there is a particular way to go about it.

With the market swinging back to buyers, selecting a listing price for your home can be difficult. Market analysis may suggest a range of prices, but it can be hit and miss as to whether such a range is a reflection of what people are willing to pay now and in the next few weeks. Nonetheless, you should determine your initial listing price from that range of prices in your area.

Once you have listed the property, you need to closely watch your traffic. Are you getting requests to show the home? If not, you need to bump the price down a bit. Once you have, give the new price another couple of weeks and see if the requests for showing the home pick up. The "right" frequency of requests is entirely dependent on how long you are willing to wait to sell the home. For most people, the right listing price is the one that produces one to three showings a week.

Make no mistake, the key to selling your property is to get people to request viewings. Curb appeal, unique features and so on are only relevant if prospective buyers are actually coming to view the property. Adjusting your price per the above strategy is one way to make sure that happens.

First time home client advice including $15000 tax credit.

First time home buyer information from David Timm Realtor with Keller Williams in Fort Collins Colorado. Real estate commentary and information related to Nothern Colorado.

5 Mistakes Real Estate Agents Make With Call Capture

Call capture technology has the ability to greatly increase the number of leads generated by a real estate agent or business, but only if used properly. Even the most potent of technology will not yield optimal results if not used correctly. Despite the power and versatility of call capture, many real estate agents do not use it to its full extent, and there are five major and often made mistakes.

The first is not following up on calls as quickly as possible. This can be difficult if the inquiries on the call capture line suddenly skyrocket, but most customers have a waiting threshold of only a couple days or less before moving on to another agent. And really there is no reason an agent should not be able to return their call within a couple of hours. Even a quick phone call to let a customer know that their inquiry was received and someone will contact them again in the near future with more details can do wonders for retention. People will always abandon an agent that they feel does not value them.

The second major mistake agents make is not being prepared. An agent will most likely have multiple extensions on the same line for different properties. Make sure that before calling a client back, the information related to the home they were interested in is readily available. Their questions could range from price to time of availability for a showing, in addition to more specific questions about layout or upgrades in the home. A real estate agent that seems unprepared will likely lose a client's interest. Homes are the most expensive purchase most people will ever make, and a lack of information will drive them away.

Another major mistake that agents make is not giving a reason for callers to connect to the agent right then and there. The recording will likely be the first introduction the client has to the property - they will have seen a sign or business card with the call capture number on it, but never have been inside or possibly even near the house. The recording needs to pre-sell the home. A few specifics are in order but don't give away everything. The idea is to provide enough information that the client is interested, but leave out enough that they will want more details. Agents can encourage a call with the use of phrases like, "To find out the best upgraded feature of this home, press 0 to speak to me now." Or they can entice them with, "To find out why the current homeowners hate to sell this house press 0 now." Then agents need to make sure that when they connect, they are ready to fulfill their promise with some extra, valuable information that wasn't in the recording.

Some agents simply make the mistake of not using the toll free call capture number enough. Many businesses will put this number on signs of homes for sale in the neighborhood and on their website. Both of those can generate excellent traffic, but are only the tip of the iceberg. The call capture number should be on everything the real estate company produces. Business cards, pens, pads of paper, mugs - if it has space on it for the number, it needs to be on there. Anything the agent does needs to be connected to the call capture number. If the business sponsors any local teams, for example, make sure this number is mentioned or displayed at their games. This is because an agent can never predict where a strong lead will come from. The more places in which the toll free number is displayed, the more leads will be generated.

As much as the call capture number is a valuable business tool, a company must ensure it entails a personal feel. Using computer-generated recordings on the capture line or delivering the information in a stilted and disjointed way is a mistake. The recording on the call capture system needs to be done by a real person, and with some real enthusiasm for the home being sold. An apathetic effort in the call capture recording will lead to a similar response from a potential client, who will move on to a more dynamic real estate team. Studies show that there is an increase in conversions when a potential client calls and listens to recording on a property and is then connected to the same person when they are ready to speak to someone. Real estate is a personal business and when the agent makes the recordings themselves it gives the call capture line a personal touch too.